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Pope Francis delivers his Easter blessing "urbi et orbi" (to the city and the world) after celebrating Easter Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican April 4, 2021.

Christ's victory over death proclaims a second chance for all, Pope Francis says

VATICAN CITY -- The Easter liturgies -- with the fire, sharing of light from the paschal candle, the renewal of baptismal promises and the proclamation that Jesus has risen -- assure people that it is never too late to start again, Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis lies prostrate as he leads the Good Friday Liturgy of the Lord's Passion April 2, 2020, at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican.

Cardinal, at Pope Francis' Good Friday service, decries divisions within church

VATICAN CITY -- As Pope Francis presided over the Liturgy of the Lord's Passion, the preacher of the papal household called on bishops and all Catholics to examine their consciences for ways they may be harming the unity of the Catholic Church.

Italian Cardinal Angelo Becciu is pictured at the Vatican in this 2018 photo. Cardinal Becciu, forced to resign in September amid a financial scandal, said Pope Francis celebrated Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord's Supper with him in his private chapel April 1, 2021.

Pope Francis celebrates Holy Thursday Mass with Cardinal Becciu

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis celebrated a private Mass on Holy Thursday with Cardinal Angelo Becciu, the former prefect of the Congregation for Saints' Causes who was forced to resign amid an investigation into suspected financial malfeasance.

A homeless person is treated by a Red Cross worker in Rome. The Office of Papal Charities has purchased vaccines to offer inoculations in Rome to 1,200 of the poorest and most marginalized.

Papal charity to run Holy Week vaccination clinic

VATICAN CITY -- The Office of Papal Charities has purchased enough doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to offer inoculations in Rome to 1,200 of “the poorest and most marginalized people who, because of their situation, are the most exposed” to the coronavirus.

Bishop J. Mark Spalding of Nashville, Tenn., blesses eight members of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia during their perpetual profession ceremony at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Nashville July 25, 2019. The number of Catholics and of permanent deacons in the world has risen, while the number of religious men and women decreased, according to Vatican statistics.

Vatican statistics show continued growth in number of Catholics worldwide

VATICAN CITY -- The number of Catholics and permanent deacons in the world has shown steady growth, while the number of religious men and women continued to decrease, according to Vatican statistics.

The dome of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican is seen from the Aventine Hill in Rome in this May 2, 2018, file photo. Pope Francis has approved pay cuts for cardinals, top managers and religious personnel working at the Vatican.

Pope Francis approves pay cuts for cardinals, top management, religious at Vatican

VATICAN CITY -- With the need to reduce costs and make sure employees are not laid off, Pope Francis has approved pay cuts for cardinals, clergy, religious and upper management officials who work in the Roman Curia and other Vatican entities.

Pope Francis is pictured in an Aug. 26, 2018, photo praying as he visits the Chapel of the Apparitions at Ireland's Knock Shrine. Pope Francis delivered a special virtual message recognizing the shrine as an International Marian and Eucharistic Shrine during Mass March 19, 2021.

Pope Francis elevates Ireland's national Knock Shrine to international status

DUBLIN -- Pope Francis has elevated the National Sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock to the status of an International Shrine of Eucharistic and Marian Devotion.

Priests in St. Peter's Basilica process to the altar where St. John Paul II is buried at the Vatican in this Feb. 13, 2020, photo. Dozens of priests concelebrate an early morning Mass at the tomb every Thursday.

Vatican ends practice of private Masses in St. Peter's Basilica

VATICAN CITY -- The Vatican is putting an end to the practice of priests going into St. Peter's Basilica early every morning to celebrate their own Mass at a side altar with just an altar server.

A same-sex couple is pictured in a file photo exchanging rings during a ceremony in Salt Lake City. The Vatican's doctrinal office says in a new note that any form of blessing of same-sex unions is "illicit," but that the negative judgment is on the blessing of unions, not the people, who must be respected.

Vatican says no blessing of gay unions

VATICAN CITY -- While homosexual men and women must be respected, any form of blessing a same-sex union is "illicit," said the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Father Jiha Lim listens to a penitent’s confession March 7, 2021, at St. Aloysius Church in Great Neck, N.Y., during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Vatican says general absolution still is permissible where infections continue to rise.

Vatican says general absolution still permissible during pandemic

VATICAN CITY -- Offering general absolution to the faithful without having them personally confess their sins first may still be done in places seeing serious or increasing levels of coronavirus infections, a Vatican official said.

Sister Nuria Calduch-Benages, an Old Testament scholar, and professor at Rome's Pontifical Gregorian University, is pictured in an undated photo. Pope Francis named her to be secretary of the Pontifical Biblical Commission.

Pope Francis names woman Scripture scholar as secretary of biblical commission

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis has named Sister Nuria Calduch-Benages, an Old Testament scholar and professor at Rome's Pontifical Gregorian University, to be secretary of the Pontifical Biblical Commission.

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